Proposal for the 2031 Women’s World Cup
In a significant move for women’s soccer, the United States Soccer Federation has put forth a proposal featuring 14 American locations out of 20 possible venues for the highly anticipated 2031 Women’s World Cup. This list includes several stadiums that are set to be utilized for the upcoming men’s tournament next year. FIFA took the opportunity to announce the details of the bids on Friday for both the 2031 and 2035 women’s championships, revealing that only one bid has been submitted for each event.
Joint Proposal and Venue Details
The joint proposal for the 2031 tournament includes the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, while the UK is aiming to host in 2035.
FIFA plans to officially endorse these bids during its congress scheduled for April 30. Among the proposed venues, the United States aims to host matches in all seven stadiums originally slated for the men’s tournament in 2026, which are located in well-known cities: Arlington, Atlanta, East Rutherford, Houston, Inglewood, Kansas City, and Seattle.
Economic Projections and Ticket Pricing
In total, the bid book identifies 50 potential sites for the women’s tournament, indicating that the decision on the final venues will take some time. The plan outlines an ambitious projection of attracting 4.5 million attendees and generating approximately $4 billion in revenue—significantly more than the revenue gathered from the 2023 tournament held in Australia and New Zealand, which only reached $570 million. Ticket prices are planned to range from $35 for basic seats to between $120 and $600 for the final match.
Broad Representation and Additional Venues
To ensure a broad representation, the bid book mentions that there are additional suitable cities beyond the initial 14 that will also be factored into the selection process.
“By proposing more sites than necessary, the joint bidders aim to provide the best possible conditions for hosting the event and to reflect the rich diversity of our region on the world stage,”
the document asserts.
In addition to the U.S. stadiums, Mexico has put forth its own renowned venues: Azteca in Mexico City, Akron in Guadalajara, and BBVA in Monterrey, with Torreón’s Corona stadium also included. Plans are in place for national stadiums in Kingston, Jamaica, and San José, Costa Rica, to host games. Furthermore, there are additional U.S. locations being considered, including Foxborough, Philadelphia, and Santa Clara, all of which hosted matches in the men’s World Cup, along with a variety of other prominent stadiums across the nation.
Notable Absences and Future Plans
Conversely, Miami’s iconic Hard Rock Stadium is notably absent from this list, as is Chicago, which had previously opted out of hosting during the 2026 World Cup due to financial burdens imposed by FIFA. Potential venues in Mexico and Costa Rica have also been outlined, indicating that organizers are looking at establishing engaging fan activities alongside the actual matches, with a projected revenue of $1.4 billion from sponsorships and marketing initiatives. The FIFA council has already approved the expansion of the Women’s World Cup to include 48 teams for the upcoming tournament in 2031.
